Welcome to the MTSU Middle East Center

Welcome to the MTSU Middle East Center

The MTSU Middle East Center, the first of its kind in Tennessee, was established to promote an understanding of the various populations and cultures of the Middle East among the student body as well as in the surrounding community. An enduring, vital component of the university, the Center builds on existing programs such as those in Global Studies, Public History and Historic Preservation, Jewish Studies, Media and Entertainment, and the Business and Economic Research Center.

The Center’s mission, thus, integrates components in curriculum, outreach, and research. Our Middle East Studies Minor offers courses in a wide variety of disciplines, including languages (Arabic and Hebrew), communications, geography, history, literature, music, political science, and religion. As part of our outreach mission, the Center sponsors workshops related to the teaching of aspects of Middle East culture for area K-12 teachers, and hosts public lectures, film showings, and other events focusing on the Middle East. The Center also encourages faculty research on topics related to the Middle East.

The Middle East Center advances many chief goals of the university. It helps prepare students “to participate as citizens in the global community,” in accordance with the university’s Mission Statement. And, in accordance with our Master Plan, the Center’s programs and activities seek to “broaden the world perspectives of its students,” and provide “opportunities for students to learn about the cultures, languages, literature, history, politics, business perspectives, and communication styles and practices of other countries” both through courses offered as part of the MES Minor and through study abroad programs.


We invite you to stop by and see us.

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